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Elvenking's first album (2001).

Elvenking's debut is one of the best examples of folk metal I've ever heard, bringing a superb foresty flavour to what would otherwise be fairly standard, yet still enormously fun power metal. This Italian band clearly has its precedent in the classic metal tradition which allows for some great guitar work and an evolving sense of song structure comparable to Iron Maiden, but it's the folk elements that stand out the most, and they're not merely restricted to the occasional guest appearance by a flute or violin.

Every one of these songs has a folk core, whether it's in the melody of the chorus or the guitar playing, and even the heavier, thrashier offerings such as 'White Willow' can't escape it entirely. This presents a problem if the listener isn't so into the folk elements, but the solution there is to merely avoid this completely and check out something safer by Blind Guardian. The songs do become a little too similar as the album continues, with only the acoustic ballad 'Skywards' and the short, fun 'Hobs an' Feathers' breakings things up.